Do you inform your families of changes in your daycare

[godsgirl]

Hey Ladies
Question for you. Do you guys inform your families if other families are leaving your care or if other families are joining? Obviously, while keeping the reason for families leaving confidential. I recently had a family of 2 leave abruptly due to family circumstances and they have been with me for almost 2 years. I have only ever had 2 other families leave my care and for both of them we knew the dates in advance so I announced the date to my families 2 weeks prior to them leaving so that we could have a farewell party and ample time for the kids to prepare for them to leave.

So today I spoke with my agency and they said it was a good idea to let the families know about this family leaving so that if they knew of other families looking for care that they could let them know about me. Plus, because these 2 children have been with me so long they really have been a huge part of our group and would be noticing that they weren't here anymore.

Anyways, I sent out an email to my families letting my families know that due to 'unforeseen circumstances ______ and _______ will not be with us anymore. They will be greatly missed and we wish them nothing but the best' and then said if they one of anyone looking for care that they were welcome to pass on my info. So I told my husband that I did this and he blew up at me telling me that it's none of their business what happens in my business.

In a way, I think it is because it's their children that I'm caring for and I feel that is it their right to know who is coming in and out of my door while obviously not telling them the reasons for their leaving.

Thoughts?

[torontokids]

I tell families because of all the reasons you mentioned but I ask the outgoing family what they would like me to tell the other families when they ask. There has always been a reason that I could easily explain e.g. got into a daycare at their office, parent is home now etc. I also tell them clearly that I can offer no explanation as it is not the other family's business but they always offer one in line with what happened.

The only family I never offered an explanation for was the one I terminated and funny enough, no one asked about them. If they did, I was going to say that "sadly it wasn't a good fit" or "sadly, it didn't work out."

[playfelt]

All my parents pretty much know about the others in the sense of it truly is a family affair here. Having said that anything told to me in confidence that is as far as it goes obviously but I feel other parents have a right to know how changes will effect their child. Often they either know, sense or have come right out and asked about a certain child sensing things aren't good. A child leaving changes the dynamics of the group as often no matter what age that child was it is a new one year old that eventually joins the group so everyone's pecking order changes.

[Spixie33]

I always find a way to tell parents about changes either in conversation or during my newsletter. It doesn't mean that I say the whole scoop on why but at least they know and I can address it and make sure they don't think someone left because of something I did and that I am trying to cover it up

We have a close-knit group where all the parents know the kids' names and greet them at pickup/drop off. It would be obvious if someone just disappeared or was no longer in the newsletter with their pictures every month.

If you have a pretty close group then the parents would have asked you at some point anyways "Where is Billy and Sammy?" Addressing it up front shows you have nothing to hide.

I also let parents know a few weeks in advance if someone new is coming. Usually I announce it in my newsletter and write whether it's a boy or girl and their name and age.

Personally...I think you did nothing wrong.I think having open, honest communication lines between daycare and the parents fosters trust and honesty. Communication is really important and it probably gives the parents peace of mind.

[Lee-Bee]

Wouldn't your husband find it odd to show up for work tomorrow and his co-worker of 2 years was gone. Poof. No sign of him, no goodbye, no explanation?

It would drive me bonkers to not know where they went! Even just knowing that they left would be nice!!

I tell families before a child starts. I am still new so haven't had any children leave but I have a child on vacation this week and felt the need to tell families because she is a missing person when they arrive in the morning and go at night. If I don't mention she's on vacation it leaves them wondering if she was pulled from care.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with the others. I let my parents know who is leaving and when as we usually have a little going away party on their last day. I do it so the parents aren't wondering why they left, the kids have time to say goodbye to their friend and the parents can refer me to anybody they know looking for a dcp. My group is small (often only 4-5 families) and the parents run into each other here and become acquaintances and a few of them know each other outside of dc so it's a close group. In fact, one of my current dck's is having a bday party this wknd and one of my past children will likely be there.

I had 3 leave at the same time last year (end of June) and than 2 leave this year within 2 weeks of each other. None of them leaving had anything to do with me but I felt that it looked bad and if I didn't have the policy I do, I can imagine the other parents might be wondering why they all left together! lol. It was all things like going to a dc centre, parents loosing jobs, kids moving on to preschool so it was nothing overly private and the parents leaving usually tell the other parents anyways so it's not often I have to say anything anyways, just the odd time to a parent or two.

[mickyc]

When someone leaves I usually let all families know that I have a spot available and to please pass my name along. Of course they all want to know who left. I have had parents actually happy that certain children have left my care lol. When my last family left (very abruptly) one mom said "well she was really strange anyways" lol.

I have no issues letting everyone know.

[giraffe]

Lol I never tell my parents... None of their business. Do you think centres inform all of their parents when they have changes in children or staff? It may be mentioned in a monthly newsletter but not usually.

[bright sparks]

Lol I never tell my parents... None of their business. Do you think centres inform all of their parents when they have changes in children or staff? It may be mentioned in a monthly newsletter but not usually.

But isn't that one of the differences between centre care and home daycare? In a centre there is less chance for parents to even interact with the group and/or become familiar with the many different children let alone remember their names. In a home daycare centre it is much more intimate and due to the low numbers it makes sense that parents would be more familiar with them and so as a result they are more likely to make enquiries as to the absence of a child when they see the group regularly at drop off and pick up. A centre wouldn't tell a parent because it isn't an intimate childcare setting where parents and all children closely interact on a daily basis. I think it is a parents business who their child is interacting with. Centres don't inform parents for different reasons but then we aren't an employee in a centre, but business owner/operators with a much deeper level of investment and much different kind of relationship with the families.

[Lee-Bee]

But isn't that one of the differences between centre care and home daycare? In a centre there is less chance for parents to even interact with the group and/or become familiar with the many different children let alone remember their names. In a home daycare centre it is much more intimate and due to the low numbers it makes sense that parents would be more familiar with them and so as a result they are more likely to make enquiries as to the absence of a child when they see the group regularly at drop off and pick up. A centre wouldn't tell a parent because it isn't an intimate childcare setting where parents and all children closely interact on a daily basis. I think it is a parents business who their child is interacting with. Centres don't inform parents for different reasons but then we aren't an employee in a centre, but business owner/operators with a much deeper level of investment and much different kind of relationship with the families.

The daycare centres I have worked at have let families and children know when a friend is leaving. Even the youngest of children need a chance to say goodbye. They spend 40-50hrs a week with these other children, they are a big part of their lives. To have them disappear one day and never be seen again does impact them. Letting their parents know not only informs the parents of the reason for the change, allow them to refer you but allows the parents to help the child understand that their friend will not be back.

The schools I have worked in also have done a formal goodbye and have in some way or another let the parents know of the change. I'm sure not all schools and centres would inform families but I would think the better quality ones do, at least that is my experience.